craft jewellery from Northumberland

Brioude en fête

Our nearest town, Brioude, is usually very quiet and sleepy. It has a population of just over 6,500, and whilst it does attract some tourists in the summer, it’s not exactly swamped.

All that chamges for a fortnight every other year, during the month of July, when Brioude hosts its biannual watercolour festival – the Biennale d’Aquarelle. It’s a truly international affair, this year featuring artists from countries including Japan, Poland, the UK, Switzerland and Slovenia, as well as all parts of France.

The town has got the bunting out, and it’s crammed with people browsing the exhibitions, admiring the newly-restored cathedral, attending workshops, painting in the street, and enjoying a coffee and a chat outside the cafés.

I tend to associate watercolour with hobby painters turning out pretty views (probably very unfairly), so I’m always amazed by the incredibly diverse range of styles and techniques on display at the biennale, from very precise little illustrations right through to huge, messy abstracts. I could have spent many, many euros if I had them, but instead contented myself with some postcards. This is one of my favourite paintings from the exhibition, an abstract landscape by the French artist Reine-Marie Pinchon.

Brioude is a lovely town and I MUST look out for the watercolour expo next year and make it my business to brave the crowds. You might be interested in this blog – Andrew lives in Canada and produces a wide range of really lovely watercolours. I have no idea if he sells them but his work is appealing and I see some synergy in your mutual love of nature. http://thechangingpalette.com/category/uncategorized/ PS: Wasn’t Romain’s victory SO sweet!!